Answers In Action Statement of Faith

Because of our desire to uphold and teach the truth of the Holy Scriptures, Answers in Action sets forth the following statement of faith. All members of the Board of Directors and any staff shall subscribe annually to the statement without reservation of any kind. We believe that:

1. The Scriptures

The Scriptures, the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament, in their autographs are the inerrant and infallible Word of God, source and rule of all our faith and practice.¹ They are designed to lead us to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ apart from works of any kind. They are inspired by God and therefore serve as the highest authoritative guide for Christian understanding, life, and ministry.² In saying that the Scriptures are inspired we do not mean that they are inspiring in the same way we may refer to a good novel as being inspiring. Rather, this inspiration is plenary, meaning that all of the scriptures are inspired. This excludes the opinion that says that only portions of the Scriptures are inspired or that the Scriptures become inspired as we read them. This inspiration is also verbal, meaning that the very words of Scripture are inspired, not just the thoughts. The Scriptures accordingly in all that they affirm are without error, in the whole and in the part, and therefore are completely trustworthy.³ The Scriptures are not to be added to, superseded, or changed by later tradition or supposed revelation.⁴ Every doctrinal formulation whether of creed, confession, or theology must be put to the test of the full counsel of God in the Holy Scripture.⁵ All redemptive understanding of the Scriptures depends upon the illumination of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the most accurate factual knowledge attained through exegesis, exposition, and interpretation does not bring about conversion or spiritual comprehension without the Holy Spirit creating understanding through the Word and applying its message to the heart.⁶ The primary essential teachings of Scripture are ably summarized in the historical Apostles and Nicene Creeds, among others.

1. Ps. 19:89, 105
2. 2 Tim 3:15-17
3. Jn 10:35; 17:17; Mt 24:35.
4. Isa 8:20; Gal 1:8,9
5. Mt 22:29-33; Eph 2:20; Acts 28:23
6. 1 Cor 2:7-16

2. The Trinity

God is Triune. There is but one God, infinite, eternal, almighty, and perfect in holiness, truth and love^1. In the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, co-equal, co-existent, co-creators, and co-eternal.² The Father is not the Son and the Son is not the Holy Spirit, yet each is truly Deity. One God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is the foundation of Christian faith and life.³

1. 1. Deut 6:4; 1 Cor 8:4,6; Isa 44:6-8; Isa 57:15; 1 Jn 4:8; Gen 17:1; Ps 145:3
2. 2. Mt 3:16,17; 28:19; 1 Cor 12:4-6; 2 Cor 13:14
3. 3. Jn 14:23-25; 15:26; 16:13-15

3. God the Father

God the Father is the creator of heaven and earth¹. By His Word all things were made, and through the same Word He daily sustains all His creatures.² He is faithful to every promise, works all things together for good to those who love Him, and in His unfathomable grace He gave His Son Jesus Christ for mankind’s redemption.³ He made man for fellowship with Himself, and intended that all creation should live to the praise of His glory.⁴

1. 1. Gen 1:1; Heb 11:3; Ps 33:9
2. 2. Jn 1:3,10; Col 1:15-17; Heb 1:2,3
3. 3. Ps 147:13; Rom 8:28; Jn 3:16
4. 4. Rom 11:36; Rev 4:11

4. Mankind

Man–Male and Female–was created in the image and likeness of God.¹ Through the original sin of man–Adam and Eve–mankind has fallen away from God, become corrupt in his whole nature, and is totally incapable by himself of returning to God.² Fallen, sinful men, whatever their character or attainments, are lost without hope apart from salvation in Christ.³

1. 1. Gen 1:26,27
2. 2. Rom 5:12, 16,17; Jer 17:9; Eph 2:1-3; Jn 6:44
3. 3. Jn 3:3-7; Acts 4:12

5. God the Son

Jesus Christ the Son is fully God and fully man; the only Savior for the sins of the world.¹ The human and divine natures of Christ do not lose their distinctiveness in the hypostatic union. Instead, the properties of each nature are conserved and both natures concur in one person. He, the Word, was made flesh, supernaturally conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and was perfect in nature, teaching, and obedience.² He died on the cross as the vicarious sacrifice for all mankind, physically and literally rose from the dead in His own glorified body, ascended into heaven, and will return in glory³. He is the Head of the Body the Church, Victor over all the powers of darkness, and now reigns at the right hand of the Father.⁴

1. 1. Jn 1:1; 20:28; Col 1:17; 2:9; 1 Tim 1:5,6; Heb 2:14-18
2. 2. Jn 1:14; Mt 1:18, 22, 23; Luke 1:35; Jn 8:29
3. 3. Jn 19:33-37; Rom 4:24, 25; 1 Cor 15:1-3; 2 Cor 5:21; 1 Pet 2:24; 1 Jn 2:2; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thes 4:16, 17
4. 4. Col 1:8; 2:15; Heb 1:3,4

6. Salvation

Salvation, the gift of God, is provided solely by His grace through faith in Jesus Christ and apart form works.¹ Turning from sin in repentance, looking to Christ and His vicarious death, man is born anew into eternal life by the power and agency of the Holy Spirit.² There is no other name except Jesus Christ by which men may be saved.³ Through His great redemptive act there is forgiveness of sin, liberation from bondage to the world, and freedom in His Spirit.⁴

1. Eph 2:1-10; Rom 5:1
2. Acts 2:38; Titus 3:4-7; Acts 3:19-21
3. Acts 4:12
4. Eph 1:7; Gal 6:14, 15

7. God the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is fully God and exhibits all of the attributes of Deity. He is also a person and not merely another name for God or a force that God uses. The Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, unites man to Jesus Christ in faith, brings about the new birth, dwells within the regenerate, producing in them the fruit of the Spirit, and enables them to grow in sanctification.¹ The Holy Spirit inspired prophets, judges, and king in ancient times, anointed Jesus for His ministry, filled the Church with His power, and will transform the mortal body of each believer into one like Jesus’s own immortal body in the glory of the resurrection.²

1. Jn 15:8-10; 1 Cor 12:12; Jn 3:5; 1 Cor 6:19; Rom 8:9-11; Gal 5:22, 23; 2 Cor 3:17, 18
2. 1 Pet 1:2, 10-12; 2 Pet 1:20, 21; Lk 4:1, 18-21; Acts 2:4; 4:31; Rom 8:11; Phil 3:21; 1 Cor 15:51, 52

8. The Church

The Church, which is the body and bride of Christ, is dedicated to the worship and service of God, the observance of the sacraments or ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and the practice of good works.¹ The primary task of the Church in all ages is to teach all nations and make disciples, bringing the Gospel to bear on every aspect of life and thought. The ultimate mission of the Church is the redemption of souls. When God transforms sinful nature, this then becomes the chief means of society’s transformation.² All Christians are members of the Church, and as such are responsible for maturing and continuing in Him, through the power of the Holy Spirit, in spiritual, emotional, intellectual, and moral integrity and maturity.³

1. Rom 12:4,5; 1 Cor 12:27; Eph 5:23, 27; 2:22; 1 Pet 2:5, 9, 10; Eph 2;10; Titus 2:14
2. Mt 28:19, 20; 1 Cor 10:4, 5
3. James 2:8-26; 1 Pet 3:1-4; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Gal 5:22-26

9. The Consummation of All Things

The Consummation of all things includes the visible, personal, and glorious return of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the dead and the translation of those alive in Christ, the judgment of the just and the unjust, and the fulfillment of Christ’s kingdom in the new heavens and new earth.¹ Satan with his hosts and all men outside of Christ are finally separated from the presence of God, enduring eternal conscious punishment.² All who have been redeemed by Christ from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light will be in the presence of God forever, giving Him unending praise and glory.³

Amen.

1. 1 Thes 4:13-17; Rev 1:7; Acts 1:11; Rev 20:11-15; 2 Cor 5:10; Rev 21:1-4
2. Mt 25:41; Mk 9:47, 48; 2 Thes 1:7-10
3. Rev 21:1-4

About Gretchen Passantino

Gretchen Passantino Coburn

Biography 2013

 Gretchen Passantino Coburn (neé Beisner) is the co-founder & director of one of the oldest & best-known Christian apologetics & research organizations in the world, Answers In Action (AIA). She has been in full-time Christian ministry for 40 years & is a well-respected & award-winning teacher, author, qualified expert, & speaker. She has been an adjunct teacher on the undergrad, grad, & seminary levels.

Passantino co-founded Christian Apologetics: Research & Information Service (CARIS) in 1974 with her late husband, the well-known apologist Bob Passantino. She worked for & was mentored by the late Dr. Walter Martin, founder of the Christian Research Institute (CRI) beginning in 1974, serving as his Senior Research Consultant for 4 years, teaching assistant (1974-1982) co-author of The New Cults, & editor on nearly all his writing projects from 1974 until his death in 1989. As his TA she taught at Melodyland School of Theology & Simon Greenleaf School of Law. She taught as adjunct faculty at Biola University,  Concordia Univeristy (Irvine), and Faith Evangelical Lutheran Seminary.

Passantino holds a B.A. degree in Comparative Literature (German Literature minor) from the University of California (Irvine) (1974) & a M.Div. degree (Apologetics emphasis) from Faith Seminary (2002). At Biola (1988-1992) she taught in the English & Communications department, including Journalism; Speech, Debate, & Critical Thinking; Composition, Writing for Publication, & English. At Concordia (1992-1996) she taught in the English department, including Composition & Writing for Publication. She taught for the Biola University Writers Institute (1988-1992) & was its sole director (1991-1992). At Faith Seminary she has taught in Bible, Theology, Apologetics, Church History, & Hermeneutics.

Passantino  has authored or co-authored more than 20 books, including the award-winning Who Really Wrote the Book of Mormon, The New Cults, Answers to the Cultist at Your Door, Witch Hunt, When the Devil Dares Your Kids, & Satanism. She has authored hundreds of articles for many major publications, including Christianity Today, Charisma, Moody, World, Christian Retailing, Focus on the Family, Christian Parenting Today, Discipleship Journal, Journal of Psychology & Theology, Christian Research Journal, Cornerstone, Answers In Action Journal, & Christian Times. She was the news editor of Christian Research Journal, editor of Cornerstone, and director of AIA Journal. She has received multiple awards from the Evangelical Press Association, Christian Booksellers Association, and the Free Press Association.

Passantino  has spoken nationwide at hundreds of churches, organizations, conventions, seminars, & schools. She is a frequent expert for radio & television news. She has been interviewed on Oprah!, Bill O’Reilly’s The Factor, Sean Hannity Live!, & all of the national prime time news programs as well as numerous local news affiliates on both radio & television.

Passantino  is a recognized research expert on Satanism, world religions, new religious movements, aberrant faith issues, & reasons for faith. She has always been involved in medical & social ethics issues, but has a new commitment to apologetics in life issues (see below). The award-wining AIA web site (www.answers.org), directed by Passantino Coburn, is recognized world-wide for its sound research in these areas.

Passantino  is married to Patrick Coburn. Between them they share 5 grown children & 8 grandchildren. In December 2012 her husband suffered sudden cardiac death from an arterial blood clot but was resuscitated with associated brain injury. He is well along in recovery, expected to make a full & complete recovery, something only a small fraction of such patients experience. Passantino has a new apologetics focus on life & death issues, euthanasia, “living wills,” brain function & mental function, & other issues she & Pat are experiencing in this journey of faith. Together Pat & Gretchen actively support life & death crisis issues & military & veterans affairs. Pat is a 2 time combat Vietnam USMC veteran & member of the American Legion Honor Guard (Newport Beach Post #291).

Gretchen Passantino Coburn. Answers In Action. Gretchen.Passantino@answersinaction.org

Answers In Action & Gretchen Passantino Launch New Feature

As Answers In Action & I renew our ministry of Christian apologetics, theology, & biblical doctrine, we are adding new features to enrich your knowledge & experience of God’s Word through rational inquiry. This is one!

Like, share, follow & request e-mail updates for the newest Answers In Action publications. We will address old issues in new ways,  new issues in timeless ways, & revisit classic issues with classic responses.

If you’ve known me &/or Answers In Action in the past, you know your time reading our features is an investment in your theological growth. If you’re new to us, you are in for a treat as you are exposed to strong biblical apologetics & theology communicated in clear, persuasive content.

Looking forward to an additional ministry outreach!

Gretchen Passantino

Co-Founder, Director

Answers In Action